Ambulatory traction treatment apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surgical brace device for ambulatory treatment of the lower back of a patient includes a pair of spaced apart torso belt members joined together with jack screw connecting means for applying traction to the user between the pair of belts, and a pair of adjustably spaced lordosis pads mounted on the lower belt applies forward pressure on spaced apart back vertebrae.

United States Patent Heuser et a1.

AMBULATORY TRACTION TREATMENT APPARATUS Inventors: Gordon D. l-leuser,2514 Stacy CL,

Colorado Springs, Colo. 80915; Rolla ,1. Pennell, 10701 Winner Rd,Independence, Mo. 64052 Filed: May 13, 1914 Appl. No.: 469,558

US. Cl 128/75; 128/78 Int. C1. A6111 [/02 Field of Search 128/75, 78,83, 84, 85, 128/87 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1860 Wright128/78 June 17, 1975 1,089,305 3/1914 Baughman 128/85 1,650,650 11/1927Pieper v. 128/78 2,835,247 5/1958 Stabholc 123/78 3,548,817 12/1970Mittasch 128/75 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner.1.Yasko Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichard D. Law

[57] ABSTRACT A surgical brace device for ambulatory treatment of thelower back of a patient includes a pair of spaced apart torso beltmembers joined together with jack screw connecting means for applyingtraction to the user between the pair of belts, and a pair of adjustablyspaced lordosis pads mounted on the lower belt applies forward pressureon spaced apart back vertebrae.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures AMBULATORY TRACTION TREATMENT APPARATUSTreatment of the lower spine of a patient has been accomplished inseveral ways in the past. One method of treatment of the lower lumbarregion is shown in US. Pat. No. 2.835.247. This device includes a pairof spaced apart belts adjustably joined so as to be able to applytraction to the patients spine between the two belts. Also. included isa single lordosis pad for applying forward pressure to vertebrae betweenthe two belts thereby providing treatment, for example. of a posteriorabnormal positioning of the vertebrae.

The present invention provides an improvement over such a device inproviding accurate belt fastening and tightening means around the torsoof the user, along with a pair of spaced apart lordosis pressure padswhich are easily adjustable to fit the particular user. The deviceprovides a pair of spaced apart adjustable waist belts arranged toproduce secure and accurate tightening of the belts on the user. so asto provide accurate and controllable tensioning of the patients spinebetween the two belts. The lordosis pads are adjustably mounted on thelower belt to accurately press against one or two of the desiredvertebrae or discs of the user.

It is, therefore, included among the objects and advantages of thepresent invention to provide a lower spine treatment apparatus providinglongitudinal traction ofthe users spine and accurately positionedlordosis pads to provide forward pressure to specified vertebrae ordiscs of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lower spine tractiondevice having improved belt tightening means around the waist of theuser.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an easy and fast belttightening means and providing padding means for the belt to preventinjury to the torso of the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an accuratetensioning means for applying accurate ten sion to the lower vertebraeof the user.

These and other objects of the invention may be readily ascertained byreferring to the following illustrations and description in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a lower spine traction device, according to theinvention, showing its mounting on a human torso;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the lower spine tensioning apparatus.according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front quarter perspective of the device, showing in detailthe lordosis pads and mounting thereof on the apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a tensioning means of the lowerspine tensioning apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, detail, cut-away view of the device of FIG. 5taken along lines 6-6;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, detail, cut-away view of the lower tensioninglock device of the mechanism of FIG. 5 taken along lines 7-7',

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail cut-away view of the upper tensioning lockofa device of FIG. 5 taken along lines 8-8:

FIG. 9 is an enlarged. cutaway detail view of the belt tensioning deviceof FIG. 2 taken along section lines 9-9, and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the belt tensioning mechanism ofFIG. 3 taken along lines 10-l0.

Generally. in the device illustrated in the drawings, the lower spinetensioning means includes an upper belt, a lower belt with means forforcing the two apart to apply tension to the spine of the usertherebetween. and a pair of pressure (lordosis) pads (one mountedbetween the belts and one below the lower belt) which are adjustable toapply forward pressure against a portion of the spine {or one or twovertebrae) within the adjustability of the pressure pads. To be able toapply pressure or tensioning between the upper and lower belts (or bodybands). the belts are provided with tightening means so as to secure thebelts to the torso of the user.

Specifically, as shown in the illustrations, the device of the inventionincludes an upper belt or band 10 and a lower belt or band 12. Thesebands include back portions which are arcuate members arranged to fitabout the back half of the torso of a person, and are semirigid, as madeof spring steel or the like. terminating at about the sides of the torsoof the person. These are padded to prevent injury to the back of theperson. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of pads 10a and 10b are mounted onthe ends of the upper back portion, and in a similar manner the lowerbelt portion 12 includes the attached pads 12a and 12b, 12b being shownin FIG. 2. These pads prevent injury to the patient as the belts aretightened about the torso. A web belt 16 is attached to the ends of theback portion of top band I0 and it includes a buckle 17 for fasteningthe two free ends of the belt together. The belt passes over the pads,10a and 10b, and bears thereagainst. A ratchet type take-up 18 ismounted on the end of the belt back portion 10. The belt end is attachedto the tightener and it provides means for tightening the belt 16 aroundthe torso of the user. In a similar manner. a belt 20 is attached to atightening ratchet means 22 attached on the lower rigid belt member 12.The belt tensioning or tightening means is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, andthe tightening mechanism 18 and 22 are equivalent. Therefore, adescription of one sufficies for the other.

The belt take up mechanism includes a take-up shaft 24 mounted in aU-shaped yoke 25 which is secured to the end of the rigid part of thebelt portion 10. The shaft 24 is rotatable in the yoke. The shaftincludes a slot 24a extending completely through the shaft for entranceof the belt end, so that the belt may be wound around the shaft 24. Ahandle 27 is mounted on the yoke 25, and a drive pawl 28 is pivoted toit so as to rotate a ratchet wheel 29 attached to the shaft 24. Bymovement of the handle 27, in the direction of the arrow, the ratchetwheel is pushed by the pawl to rotate the shaft 24. The spring loadedpawl permits reverse movement of the handle. A lock 30 prevents theshaft from unwinding as the handle is returned and also provides a lockfor the shaft. A detend button 31 mounted in the handle 27 providesmeans for releasing the lock 30 when the tension of the belt is desiredto be released by releasing the lock 30 when the handle is in closedposition. A similar arrangement is provided for the belt portion 20including the belt take-up shaft and the ratchet mechanism.

To secure the two belt portions together and to also provide means forforcing the belts apart to produce tension on the spine of the user. apair ofjack screws are provided thcrebetween by attaching the same tothe back belt portions by a limited swivel connection. This swivelconnection permits the belts to move slightly to accommodate personsthat are deformed. The conned tion and tensioning means includes a jackscrew. and a screw thread lock means mounted on each of the lower backbelt portions. Thus by rotating each jack screw through the upperratchet means. the screw may be rotated against the lock means on thelower belt and thereby force the two belts apart.

A right hand side jack screw 30 is secured to the upper belt by alimited pivotal mount 31 and to the lower belt 12 by a limited pivotalmount 32. In a similar manner. a jack screw 46 is mounted by pivotalmount 4] to the upper belt 10 and to a limited pivotal mount 42 to thelower belt 12. A handle 33 and spring pawl 36 on the mount 31 provides aratchet rotation means for the jack screw 30, and a handle 43 providesthe same rotation, in the opposite direction. to the jack screw 40 onthe other connection. A handle 34 mounted on the lower attachment mount32 provides means for a thread tooth to engage the threads of the jackscrew 32 permitting the movement of the mount 32 away from the mount 31.As shown in FIG. 8. the jack screw is provided with an attached ratchetwheel 35, and the spring loaded pawl 36 mounted on the handle 33provides means for counter-clockwise rotating the ratchet wheel 35 andattached shaft 30 (which is keyed to the ratchet wheel 35). in a similarmanner. the handle 43 with a drive pawl turns the ratchet wheel and thejack screw in the opposite or clockwise direction. This permits anattendant to pull both handles 43 and 33 outwardly at the same time toconjointly rotate the shafts 4t) and 30, so as to conjointly move thetwo belts uniformly apart. This provides uniform tension thereon. Theshaft 30 is reciprocally mounted in the mount 3], and a compressionspring 37 is mounted between the top of shaft 30 and the mount 310. sothat as tension is exerted between the belts. the handle 33 moveslongitudinally along a slot 38, with the spring 37 being compressed. Thedis tance of movement indicates a pressure of the tension as shown onthe scale 39 on the mount. Both upper mounts includes the springs. slotsand scale. This provides means for determining the tension between thetwo belts. and individually on both jack screws. The scales show thetension to be exerted on both sides of the spine of the user. In onesize. it has been found highly usable to provide a scale marked forevery 8.1 pounds of tension.

To provide the threading arrangement of the lower mount with the jackscrew 30, a thread tooth 34a is mounted on the handle 34, shown in FIG.7, which is arranged to move in and out of engagement with the threadsof the shaft 30 as it extends through the mount 32. A tension spring34!) secured between the mount and the handle 34 biases the handle inclosed position so that the tooth 34a is normally in contact with thethreads of the jack screw 30. A cover 30a, FIG. 5, ex tends downwardlyfrom the lower mount 32 and provides a shield for the jack screws belowlower mounts. Since the two belt arrangements hold the jack screws awayfrom the body between the two belts no covering is necessary, but thebody may contact the lower portion of the jack screws and the coversprevent such contact.

As pointed out above. tension between the two belts is provided byrotating the jack screws with the thread teeth in contact with the jackscrews so that the lower mounts move away from the upper mounts as thehandles 33 and 43 ratchet on the ratchet wheels to conjointly turn thejack screws.

Tension between the two belts is generally determined by the scales asthe jack screws bear against the springs in the upper mounts. Thetension is easily relieved by pulling on the lower handles. whichrelease thread teeth from the jack screws. The two belts are free tomove together. Further, differential tension may be provided for the twojack screws. if such is indicated.

To provide lateral pressure on vertebrae and/or discs in the lower backregion. a pair oflordosis pads 50 and 51 are mounted on screws 52 and 53respectively which are threadably mounted in supports 54 and 55respectively. The two mounts 54 and 55 are slidably mounted in a holder58, which is secured to the belt portion 10. The slidable mounts 54 and55 are frictionally held in position by means of flat springs and 61mounted in the passages in the fitting 58 to bear against mounts 54 and55 to secure the mounts in predeter mined position. Pressure of thelordosis pads against the back is provided by rotating the screws 52 and53 by means of the manipulating handles 52a and 53a re spectively. Thisprovides means for moving one or both ofthe lordosis pads toward andaway from the body of the user.

With the two belts properly tightened around the torso of the user. thedesired tension is placed on the back by the jack screws between the twobelts, to tension the spinal column of the user. The lordosis pads maybe pressed in desired places on the vertebrae or discs of the spine. Itis noted the upper lordosis pad 50 is arranged to contact an areabetween the two belts while the lower lordosis pad 51 is arranged tocontact various parts of the sacroiliac or lower spine.

As generally explained, the apparatus is adjustable for various portionsof the lower spine of the user, and the tension applied to the spinebetween the secured belts is easily determined by the scale on each ofthe upper mounts of the tensioning apparatus. Furthermore, the lordosispads are readily adjusted to the particular individual. and the deviceprovides a very easy and quick method of applying tension on the lowerspine of a user and the later pressure against vertebrae and discs ofthe lower back.

We claim:

1. In an ambulatory traction treatment apparatus having a pair of spacedapart upper and lower torso belts tightenable on a torso by strapsdepending from each end of said belts, and a pair of spaced-apart tensioning jack screws therebetween for moving said belts apart. theimprovement ofa pair of mounting means for each said jack screw on theupper torso belt inclusive of ratchet means for rotating each said screwin oppo site directions. a pair of mounting means on the lower torsobelt inclusive of releasable tooth means for holding each said screw fortensioning and for immediate release of tension, and adjustable mountmeans on the lower belt holding a pair ofspacedapart lordosis pads,including means for applying forward pressure to said lordosis padsagainst vertebrae of a patient, said adjust- 6 able mount means includesa pair of passage means, an belts are tightened on the torso of apatient by means elongated holder for each lordosis pad mounted in eachf a mttakemp on h h ldi straps said passage and spring bias means ineach said passage In the improvement of claim 2 wherein quick of saidmount means for frictionally holding each said elongated holder at apredetermined position for prep- 5 ositioning said lordosis pads.

2. In the improvement of claim 1 wherein said torso lease means isprovided on said ratchet means for releasing said ratchet take-up.

1. In an ambulatory traction treatment apparatus having a pair of spacedapart upper and lower torso belts tightenable on a torso by strapsdepending from each end of said belts, and a pair of spaced-aparttensioning jack screws therebetween for moving said belts apart, theimprovement of a pair of mounting means for each said jack screw on theupper torso belt inclusive of ratchet means for rotating each said screwin opposite directions, a pair of mounting means on the lower torso beltinclusive of releasable tooth means for holding each said screw fortensioning and for immediate release of tension, and adjustable mountmeans on the lower belt holding a pair of spaced-apart lordosis pads,including means for applying forward pressure to said lordosis padsagainst vertebrae of a patient, said adjustable mount means includes apair of passage means, an elongated holder for each lordosis pad mountedin each said passage and spring bias means in each said passage of saidmount means for frictionally holding each said elongated holder at apredetermined position for prepositioning said lordosis pads.
 2. In theimprovement of claim 1 wherein said torso belts are tightened on thetorso of a patient by means of a ratchet take-up on the holding straps.3. In the improvement of claim 2 wherein quick release means is providedon said ratchet means for releasing said ratchet take-up.